Vehicle-wheel.



A. J. MEYER.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 3,1910.

1 ,.12419, I Patented Jan.12,1915.

UNITE SITES FATF@ CFFICFQ.

AUGUST J. MEYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNR T0 A. J'. MEYER MUTR GARCOMPANY, OF CEDARBURG, WISCONSIN, A. GR'PORATION OF WISCONSIN.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

messie.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. l2, MM5.

Application led May 3, 1910. Serial No. 559,194.

17 'o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, AUGUST J. MEYER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in resilient carrying and motivepower for traction wheels and has for its object the provision ofconstructions of this character which shall be simple and effective withmaximum resiliency at all times and under all conditions.

The most urgent demand for awheel of this type at the present time isfor a structure which shall best lend itself to the strenuousrequirements of the motor vehicle, and my improvements have beendirected particularly toward the solving of this problem, although itwill be appreciated that my invention is in nowise limited to anyspecific application of the structure herein set forth.

I may briefly and generally describe the embodiment of my invention in apreliminary way by stating that therevis a series of suitably inflatablecushions positioned circumferentially between the hub of my wheel and asuitable spoke-supporting spider, and diametrically between an alternate"forcetransmitting and force-resisting member, and have for theirobject'the absorption of shock or jar and preventing the transmission ofsame to the occupants and vehicle itself.

To further augment the sphere of usefulness of my wheel, it is providedwith a suitable positive positioning and rotative motion-transmittingmember or members between thefhub and a suitable spoke-supporting spiderto make the same suitable foil traction purposes.

The details thereof will be explained in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a side elevation of the wheelembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a central cross-section of my wheeltaken in the plane indicated by the line 2, 2 of Fig. l, and showing theaxle, hub, ball bearings, lubricant tube, spoke-supporting spider withits inward extending arms and drive dog carrying swivel block, alsospokes, rim, steel tire and sectional'h'ard fiber or other suitablematerial wearing tire; Fig. 3 is an enlarged diametrical cross-sectionof the hub only on line 3, 3, Figs. l and 4, to facilitate theexplanation and better illustrate the diametrical relation of thevarious parts of the hub to each other; Fig. et is an enlarged sectionin elevation of the hub, on line 4f, 4l, Figs. 2 and 3, to facilitatethe explanation of the various important members of my invention.

Through each of the several figures of the drawings I have employed thesame characters of reference to indicate similar parts.

Referring first to Fig. l, it will be observed that in generalappearance my wheel does not differ materially from those used on motorvehicles at the present time.

It will be appreciated that the resiliency of the present exposedpneumatic tire is transferred to an enlarged hub where the variousoperative members are entirely incased and protected from undue wear andexposure, and thus the life of the cushioning members materiallyprolonged. Likewise by the use ofthe large diameter hub flanges or diskswhich are securely attached to integral members of the hub toward theirouter diameter, as hereinafter explained, the length and leverage of thespokes is materially reduced and a more compact and substantial wheel isproduced as a result there of, Also more graceful wheel action andV agreater cushioning efliciency than the present exposed pneumatic tireyields is attained through the employment of a series of inflatedcushions positioned between an alternate force-transmitting andforce-resisting member or members, as hereinafter explained.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed, considering the relation ofthe several parts in the position as shown and assuming axle A as fixed,it will be evident that if the tire composed of sections 8 and 9 shouldstrike an obstruction it would cause spoke-supporting spider E to slideupward between disks or hub flanges C andy D and compress lower inflatedcushions F, Figs. 3 and 4, and allow the upper cushions to expand untilthe outer tire has passed the obstruction, when all cushions wouldassume normal position. Spokes 5 carry and are secured to wood rim orfelly 6 at their outer ends and all are tightly held to spoke supportingspider E by steel tire 7 to which also hard fiber or other suitablematerial wearing tire composed of sections 8 and 9 is securely fastenedby suitable means.

Referring to Fig. 3, A- is the axle carrying ball bearings a and b, ofwhich the cups a and b tightly fit chambers c and Z of hub B. Cn theinternal periphery of the internal hub flanges B is supported tube Ithrough which lubricant passes between ball bearing a and ball bearingI), and also prevents the lubricant from passing into other parts of thewheel hub. Hub B has a suitable number of integral outwardly extendingarms B', two as shown, to which, by means of bolts, disk or hub flangesC and D are securely fastened and supported laterally and reinforced bytightly fitting hub B at 7 and g on the periphery. Hub cap V is threadedand engages the inside of the outer end of hub B toeifectually incloseworking parts at the outer end of the hub. By means of flange V of hubcap V the disk C is supported and locked against hub arm B.

Referring to Fig. 4l, spoke-supporting spider E has a suitable number ofinwardly extending arms (to alternate with those of the hub B) two asshown, E and G. Inflatable cushions F are supported between hub arms Band spoke-supporting spider arm Gr and spoke-supporting spider arm E andhub arm B. It will be observed that inflatable cushions F position andcarry spoke-supporting spider E radially and cony centric with acarrying hub B by expanding and pressing against outer peripheral wall Nof hub'B and reacting against inside diameter wall O of spoke-supportingspider E. In order to prevent inflatable cushions F from excessivelyexpanding toward and into clearing space K, flexible steel reinforcementangular shoes J are so constructed and positioned that they can readilymove radially along the side wall of hub arm B and circumferentiallyalong the inner wall C of spoke-supporting spider E. Individualinflation tubes L have been provided for each of the cushions F in theseries, four as shown. By removing plug M which, it will d be observed,is threaded with outer segmental wall of spoke-supporting spider E, anair pump may be connected to inflation tubes L and the cushions F may beinflated. If it should be found that under strenuous conditions thereshould be a metal to metal contact at R and S on inner wall O ofspokesupporting spider E and at Tand U, the inside pointsv ofspoke-supporting spider arms E and G, a rubber bumper 10 can readily beprovided at these points to take up the jarl or shock. It will beappreciated that a positive positioning and rotative motion-transmittingfeature has been provided between hub B and spoke-supporting spider E inthe event that hub B is to be keyed to axle A and thus make the wheelsuitable for traction purposes. This is accomplished by securelyfastening drive dog I), Figs. 1 and 2, into disk or hub flanges C and Dand locking same in place by lock nut P, Fig. 2. To further improve thisfeature, drive dog P carries operatively swivel block W, which engageswith and is free to travel radially between interior sides of wall Cr ofs spoke-supporting spider arm G. And since swivel block W is free tooscillate on drive dog P, spoke-supporting spider E is free to move inany direction that the supporting and actuating members with which it isassociated or connected may force it to, due to the undulating surfaceof the highways.

An opening is provided on the cylindrical peripheral wall N of hub B atyH to permit ends T and U of spoke-supporting spider arm E and G to moveto any position necessary without interference.

Sockets E of spoke-supporting spider E have been provided. to receivethe butt end of spokes 5, Figs. l and 2.

The spokes have beenomitted in Figs. 3 and 4 to simplify the drawings.It will be appreciated that on account of a series of inflatablecushions F positioned between an alternate arm of hub B andspoke-supporting spider E and enabling cushions F to 'act independentlyof each other in case one cushion of the series should give out, it willnot affect the efficiency of the others individually or collectively andthus eliminate the disagreeable task of removing and replacing pneumatictubes or tires along the wayside.

Having now described a wheel embodying my invention, I claim as new,together with such modifications as may be made by those skilled in theart, the following:

l. In a cushion wheel, the combination of a hub, a spoke-supportingspider surrounding the hub, inwardly extending arms on the spider,outwardly extending arms on i the hub between the spider arms, pneumaticcushions between the hub and spider located between such arms, andmetallic shoes supporting the cushions adjacent to the paths of sucharms.

2. In a cushion wheel, the combination of a hub,.a spoke-supportingspider surrounding the hub, resilient cushions between the hub andspider, and sliding metal shoes for protecting the endsv of thecushions.

3. In a cushion wheel, the combination of a hub having outwardlyextending parallel flanges, a spoke-supporting spider located betweenthe flanges and provided with an inwardly extending arm, resilientdevices between the spider and the hub, a single driving rod extendingthrough both flanges and the arm, and a sliding block carried by the armto engage the rod.

4. In a cushion wheel, the combination of a hub, a spider surroundingthe hub, inwardly extending arms on the spider, outwardly extending armson the hub between the spider arms, resilient cushions between the huband spider located between such arms, and protecting shoes supportingthe cushions adjacent to the paths of such arms.

5. In a cushion wheel, the combination of a hub, a spider surroundingthe hub, inwardly extending arms on the spider, outwardly extending`arms on the hub between the spider arms, resilient cushions between thehub and spider located between such arms, and lexible sliding shoessupporting the cushions adjacent to the paths of such arms.

6. In a cushion wheel, the combination of a hub having outwardlyextending anges, a spider surrounding the hub and adapted for supportingthe spokes of the wheel, outwardly extending arms on said hub, therebeing openings between said arms and the spider, inwardly extending armson the spider, a plurality of resilient cushioning devices between saidhub and spider arms, and flexible protecting shoes engaging said hubarms and said spider and projecting across said openings.

7. In a cushion wheel, the combination of a hub having outwardlyextending anges, a spider surrounding the hub and adapted for supportingthe spokes of the wheel, outwardly extending arms on said hub, therebeing openings between said arms and the arms, resilient bumpers in thepath of said arms for limiting their motion, and prof tecting shoessupporting' the cushions adjacent to the paths of such arms.

9. In a ,cushion wheel, the combination of a hub, a spider surroundingthe hub, inwardly-extending arms on the spider, outwardly-extending armson the hub between the spider arms, resilient cushions between the huband spider located between such arms, resilient bumpers for limiting`the motionbir' the hub relatively to the spider, and flexible slidingshoes supporting the cushions adjacent to the paths of such arms.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of AprilA. D. 1910.

AUGUST J. MEYER.

TWitnesses:

ALBERT C. BELL, ROBERT F. BRACKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

